NEW BRUNSWICK — It's an early winter hibernation for Old Man Rafferty's restaurant in New Brunswick, not a permanent closure, the owner is telling patrons after a temporary door sign sparked concerns this week.
Restaurant owner Mark Jakuboski said to New Jersey 101.5 on Wednesday that the plan is to reopen for Valentine's Day, with a specialized menu for that holiday weekend.
He said anyone in the restaurant industry is so mentally drained, more than nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued indoor restrictions, that he'd rather be able to pay his staff for a few days leading up to the holidays before a planned furlough — and then have them ready to work hard in the new year.